I'll Remember

Twenty-first Week

Hey, Sky!

You wouldn't believe it but I ate balut again! I saw our helpers eating them so I asked if I could have some. I only ate the yolk and the sabaw. Hindi ko talaga kayang kainin yung sisiw. Nakakaawa siyang tignan eh.

Your cheeky smile popped in my head because I remember how much you liked it. Nanuod ka pa nga ng mukbang featuring filipino foods para hindi ka clueless sa pagkain ng balut.

I remember that day, I went to your house only to be welcomed by boisterous laughs. Dala dala ko si Cloud dahil feeling ko namimiss ka na niya. Sobrang kilala ko na ang pagong na anak mo. Alam ko kung kailan siya dudumi at iihi. And I started feeding him meat too. Sabi mo noon vegan siya by choice. Pero nung pinakain ko naman ng meat, hindi naman siya umayaw. Binabalik ko na siya sayo dahil ginagawa mo lang siyang dahilan para sa madalas na pagbisita mo sa bahay namin.

Nadatnan ko kayong nagtatawanan at iniinis si Sylvester. I've always known that he's gullible. Among your cousins, si Sly ang pinakamadaling mapaniwala. He's also the most sensitive. Kaya siya ang laging binubully. It's funny because he's big in height and in built but then he's the most soft hearted fluffball.

After two months pala, Sylvester finally found out that the small bonsai plant you gave him was fake. Kwinento mo na dati 'yun sa akin. Sly is obsessed with plants. Parang baby niya ang mga halaman. You decided to gave him a plant as a present on his birthday. He adored it so much and he kept sending you pictures weekly to update you.

Tapos, he became suspicious because it's not growing. Kahit gaanong dilig at pagpapa-araw niya ay walang nangyayari.

Nadamay pa nga ako dahil hindi ko sinabi kay Sly kahit may alam ako. He looks so betrayed. Pinapakita mo naman ang mga pictures na sinend ni Sly sayo sa iba pang pinsan niyo. Wala sina Kuya Alas, Kuya Zion at Ate Ceres kaya walang kakampi si Sly. Saoirse's out with your Mom kaya all boys kayo sa bahay.

Nakakatawa pero naaawa rin ako kay Sylver kaya hindi ko magawang magbigay ng reaction. Imagine taking care of something for two months and then all of a sudden truth hits you hard that all of your effort was pointless.

You're just so cruel to do that to him.

"Fucker! You fucking...fuck!" Sa sobrang inis ni Sylvester, naubos yung curse and insult vocabulary niya.

I was so confused when your house helper placed eggs in the table. Tapos para kayong tanga na sobrang excited. Van and Yeshua looked exaspirated. For sure, tinatakwil nila kayo sa isip nila. Kahit sila ang pinakabata, I'm sure they know that they are the most sane person among all of you.

You even put Cloud on top of the eggs and took pictures of him. I still don't get it. What's the hype with those eggs?

"I've been craving for balut. Kaya I asked Manang to buy some for us." Maligayang paliwanag mo sa akin.

I know balut but I've only seen it in pictures. Hindi pa ako nakakakain at wala akong planong kumain.

"Bro, I told you I'm against this." Reklamo ng maarteng si Calin. "And what do you mean by crave? Hindi ka pa nga nakakatikim niyan eh!"

Pinagkaisahan niyo pa si Calin dahil sa kaartehan niya. You even told him off for not being mentally strong. I mean, what the hell? Ano kinalaman 'nun sa pagkain ng balut.

But I understand Calin. Hindi naman sa maarte siya, he just doesn't want to try it. It's perfectly fine. What's okay with you doesn't equate to what other's prefer.

I bet you're just curious. Kung anu-ano na lang talaga pumapasok sa isip mo. Kinuha ko si Cloud dahil pinaglalaruan na siya ni Heaven. Inakyat ko na siya sa crib niya para magpahinga kasi feeling ko nastress siya sa ingay niyo.

"Oh, put some salt in that thing baby!" Rinig na rinig ko ang boses ni Heaven. I swear you guys have the same brain cells.

"What's wrong with all of you? Why are you so happy?"

Kahit sina Yeshua at Van ay walang nagawa. May hawak rin silang balut. Wow, you actually persuade them.

" 'Coz, I'm about to eat some balut, bro." Sagot mo sa akin habang naglalagay ng asin sa balut.

"Bro?" I squinted my eyes at you. You're so preoccupied. Bro na pala ako ngayon.

"I mean...baby. My bad."

"Shit! Shit! It's the baby!" Pinamulahanan ako nang sumigaw si Sylvester. I thought he's teasing us! 'Yun pala tuluyan niyang nakita ang sisiw sa balut.

"Those are feathers." Lutang na ani Calin. Parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakikita niya.

"Here, try this." Nilahad mo sa akin ang tinidor na may yolk ng balut. I don't really mind so I let you fed me. Pero ibang usapan na kung yung baby duck ang ipapatry mo sa akin.

"It's not that bad." I told you. It's actually good.

"Mine has feet! Mine has feet you guys!" Si Heaven habang tinuturo ang sisiw sa harap niya.

"I'm sorry 'lil buddy but I'm going to eat you."

Talak kayo ng talak habang kumakain. Ako lang ata ang nakapansin sa dalawang pinakabata na nakaubos na ng balut nila. They looked cute with brows furrowed while silently eating.

"Mentally strong!" Everyone shouted when Calin is about to eat the sisiw.

"I can eat the white part! Or the yolk! Let me eat things that resemble a normal egg." He bargained.

"Just do it!"

"Yeah! Say it's good!"

"It's mind over matter."

"Boys, huwag niyong pilitin kung ayaw niya." Inirapan ko kayo. Para namang nakakita ng anghel si Calin nang sabihin ko ito.

"It's only a baby duck." Heaven shrugged like it's nothing.

"Yeah, we ate the duck." Si Sly.

"But you like anything that's edible, Kuya Sly." Si Yeshua. Sinubukan niya kayong pigilan sa pagpipilit sa kapatid niya.

"It's a duck!" Calin countered while making big hand gestures to prove his point. "With feathers!"

"Van ate them! He's usually very picky."

"I'm hungry so I don't really care what I eat." Your brother nonchalantly answered.

You were a beast, Sky. Nakalima ka atang balut for that day. I don't think you're allowed to eat that many in one sitting.

Afterwards you asked me if I liked it and if I could rate it with ten as the highest.

"Ten out of ten..." I smirked. Napaawang ang labi mo sa tuwa.

"...would not try again."

And I heared you groan in despair. You started defending how good balut is. You even enumerated the advantages of eating balut.

You're really weird!

Now, I just found myself having a taste of it again. It reminded me of you. A bittersweet smile crept on my lips as I think of you.

"Hindi masarap." I told myself.

I waited for you to defend your love for balut. Dapat inaaway mo na ko ngayon. I thought of the many things you would probably tell me. Rinig na rinig ko ang boses mo sa isip ko.

Miss na kita.

Sobra.

I'll remember

-T.A